Thursday, June 4, 2015

Probiotics and Prebiotics Influence Neuropsychological Conditions

6 Surprising Facts About Microbes In Your Gut

by Michelle TooleResearchers have long suggested a link between the gut-brain axis and neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism,
depression, and eating disorders. Using probiotics and prebiotics to
alter the gut microbiota and influence the gut-brain axis may open up
new ways of influencing neuropsychological conditions, says a new
review.

The majority of the science for probiotics has focused on gut health,
but as the understanding of the gut and the microbiome increases,
probiotics are increasing linked to a range of beneficial effects, from
weight management to immune support and allergy response, and from oral
health to cholesterol reduction.

The gut contains microorganisms that share a structural similarity
with the neuropeptides involved in regulating behavior, mood, and
emotion–a phenomenon known as molecular mimicry.

At the “forefront of current research” is work on the gut-brain axis –
the two direction communication between the gut microbiota and the
brain. Data from rodent studies has indicated that modification of the
gut microbiota can alter signaling mechanisms, emotional behavior, and
instinctive reflexes.

Researchers have long postulated that gut bacteria influence brain
function. A century ago, Russian embryologist Elie Metchnikoff surmised
that a healthy colonic microbial community could help combat senility
and that the friendly bacterial strains found in sour milk and yogurt would increase a person’s longevity.

Researchers have shown that under certain conditions, some types of
normal gut bacteria can trigger disease. Sarkis Mazmanian, a
microbiologist at the California Institute of Technology, dubbed these
elements “pathobionts”; the term “pathogens,” in contrast, refers to opportunistic microbes that are not normally part of the gut microbial community.CommunicationAccording to a new review in Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
by Linghong Zhou and Jane Foster from McMaster University in Canada,
communication channels between the gut and the brain include sympathetic
and parasympathetic nerves and the enteric nervous system (ENS).

“The role of the sympathetic nervous system in the gut-brain axis
includes regulating motility, blood flow, barrier function, and immune
system activation,” they said. “Bidirectional communication via the
vagus nerve, a component of the parasympathetic nervous system, is a
well-established pathway for gut-brain signaling and, in recent years,
has emerged as an important microbiota to brain communication pathway.

“The ENS, sometimes referred to as “the second brain” comprises
intrinsic primary afferent neurons, motor neurons, and glial cells
contained within the myenteric plexus and the submucosal plexus that
extends along the entire length of the gut. The ENS plays an essential
role in normal intestinal function including motility and secretion.”
Gut-brain axis

The body can’t tell the difference between the structure of these
mimics and its own cells, so antibodies could end up attacking both,
potentially altering the physiology of the gut-brain axis.The bacteria present in the gut affects the communication between
belly and brain, they said, and the lack of healthy gut microbiota lead
to dysfunction in the gut-brain axis, which in turn may lead to
neuropsychological, metabolic, and gastrointestinal disorders.

Intervention trials with select strains of probiotics have revealed
that supplementation may influence mood (Lactobacillus casei Shirota),
and anxiety and depression (L. helveticus and B. longum).There is also some data to support an effect with prebiotics, with
improvements in stress hormone levels and attention in health volunteers
taking oligosaccharides.

Neuropsychological disordersThe role of the gut microbiota in the development of
neuropsychological disorders is also a focus for many researchers around
the world, with data supporting an association between dysbiosis
(microbial imbalance) in the gut and disorders including depression and
autism spectrum disorder, metabolic disorders such as obesity, and
gastrointestinal disorders including IBD and IBS.

“Fortunately, studies have also indicated that gut microbiota may be
modulated with the use of probiotics, antibiotics, and fecal microbiota
transplants as a prospect for therapy in microbiota-associated
diseases,” wrote Zhou and Foster. “This modulation of gut microbiota is
currently a growing area of research as it just might hold the key to
treatment.”

The Power of ProbioticsProbiotics offset other intestinal bacteria that produce putrefactive
and carcinogenic toxins. If harmful bacteria dominate the intestines,
essential vitamins and enzymes are not produced and the level of harmful
substances rises leading to cancer, liver and kidney disease,
hypertension, arteriosclerosis and abnormal immunity. Harmful bacteria
can proliferate under many different circumstances including peristalsis
disorders, surgical operations of the stomach or small intestine, liver
or kidney diseases, pernicious anaemia, cancer, radiation or antibiotic
therapies, chemotherapy, immune disorders, emotional stress, poor diets
and aging.

The best known of the probiotics are the Lactobacilli, a number of
species of which (acidophilus, bulgaricus, casei and sporogenes) reside
in the human intestine in a symbiotic relationship with each other and
with other microorganisms (the friendly Streptococci, E. coli and
Bifidobacteria).

Lactobacilli are essential for maintaining gut
microfloral health, but the overall balance of the various
microorganisms in the gut is what is most important.Another probiotic which has recently generated a great deal of
interest is the friendly yeast known as Saccharomyces boulardii, an
organism that belongs to the Brewer’s Yeast family, not the Candida
albicans group. S. boulardii is not a permanent resident of the
intestine but, taken orally, it produces lactic acid and some B
vitamins, and has an overall immune enhancing effect. In fact, it has
been used therapeutically to fight candida infections.6 SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT MICROBES IN YOUR GUT1. What’s in Your Gut May Affect the Size of Your Gut
Need to lose weight? Why not try a gut bacteria transplant?New research published in the journal Science suggests that the microbes in your gut may play a role in obesity.2. Probiotics May Treat Anxiety and Depression
Scientists have been exploring the connection between gut bacteria and
chemicals in the brain for years. New research adds more weight to the
theory that researchers call “the microbiome–gut–brain axis.”Research
published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science shows that mice fed the bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus showed fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. Researchers theorize that this is because L. rhamnosus acts on the central gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system, which helps regulate emotional behavior.L. rhamnosus, which is available as a commercial probiotic
supplement, has also been linked to the prevention of diarrhea, atopic
dermatitis, and respiratory tract infections.3. The More Bacteria the Better
While bacteria on the outside of your body can cause serious infections,
the bacteria inside your body can protect against it. Studies have
shown that animals without gut bacteria are more susceptible to serious
infections.Bacteria found naturally inside your gut have a protective
barrier effect against other living organisms that enter your body. They
help the body prevent harmful bacteria from rapidly growing in your
stomach, which could spell disaster for your bowels.To do this, they develop a give-and-take relationship with your body.“The host actively provides a nutrient that the bacterium needs, and
the bacterium actively indicates how much it needs to the host,”
according to research published in The Lancet.4. Gut Bacteria Pass from Mother to Child in Breast Milk
It’s common knowledge that a mother’s milk can help beef up a baby’s
immune system. New research indicates that the protective effects of gut
bacteria can be transferred from mother to baby during
breastfeeding.Work published in Environmental Microbiology
shows that important gut bacteria travels from mother to child through
breast milk to colonize a child’s own gut, helping his or her immune
system to mature.5. Lack of Gut Diversity Is Linked to Allergies
Too few bacteria in the gut can throw the immune system off balance and make it go haywire with hay fever.Researchers in Copenhagen
reviewed the medical records and stool samples of 411 infants. They
found that those who didn’t have diverse colonies of gut bacteria were
more likely to develop allergies.But before you throw your gut bacteria a proliferation party, know that they aren’t always beneficial.6. Gut Bacteria Can Hurt Your Liver
Your liver gets 70 percent of its blood flow from your intestines, so
it’s natural they would share more than just oxygenated blood.Italian researchers found
that between 20 and 75 percent of patients with chronic fatty liver
disease–the kind not associated with alcoholism–also had an overgrowth
of gut bacteria. Some believe that the transfer of gut bacteria to the
liver could be responsible for chronic liver disease.